Combination partition screen and hanging structure for use in a combination partition screen

ABSTRACT

A combination partition screen includes at least two upright supports, each upright support having a plurality of longitudinal coupling portions in corners thereof and a plurality of spacers respectively mounted between each two adjacent upright supports to support partition panels, each spacer having a flat base wall, a flat bearing wall and a flat supporting wall respectively extended from the base wall, an upward stop flange extended from the flat bearing wall and adapted to hold with the flat base wall a partition panel on the flat bearing wall, a downward stop flange extended from the flat supporting wall and adapted to hold with the flat base wall a partition panel below the flat supporting wall, a downward locating flange extended from the flat bearing wall and defining with the flat supporting wall an elongated coupling chamber for hanging things, a flat positioning wall perpendicularly extended from an opposite side of the flat base wall on the middle, an elongated clamping wall extended from the flat positioning wall, and two coupling notches disposed on two ends of the flat positioning wall between the flat base wall and the flat positioning wall and respectively coupled to two adjacent upright supports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of The Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a combination partition screenand, more particularly, to such a combination partition screen that caneasily quickly be set up. The invention relates also to hanging devicesfor use on the combination partition screen.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Partition screens are commonly used to separate the room or houseinto separated spaces for different purposes for the advantage of lowcost, high mobility, and being detachable and highly adjustable.

[0005] According to conventional partition screen construction methods,the connection between the partition panels and the upright supports(studs) can be achieved by hanging as indicated in U.S. Pat. No.5,664,380 (equivalent to Taiwan Patent No. 101835), or engagement asindicated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,100 (equivalent to Taiwan Patent No.141448). According to these two connection methods, coupling elementsare provided at the back sidewall of the partition panels for fasteningto the front or back side of the upright supports (studs). The use ofthe coupling elements complicates the procedure of the installationprocedure of the partition panels.

[0006] Further, due to structural strength problem, it is not suitableto fasten an article, for example, a table board or storage rack to apartition screen with nails or screws. According to U.S. Pat. No.3,778,939, each stud has flange portions at two opposite sides and slotsin the flange portion for the mounting of a bracket selectively, andsupport boards are respectively supported on brackets between studs forholding things. According to this design, brackets must be mounted onthe studs so that storage items can be carried between studs. Thisdesign limits the arrangement of storage items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention has been accomplished under thecircumstances in view. According to one aspect of the present invention,the combination partition screen comprises at least two uprightsupports, each upright support comprising a plurality of longitudinalcoupling portions in corners thereof and a plurality of spacersrespectively mounted between each two adjacent upright supports tosupport partition panels, each spacer comprising a flat base wall, aflat bearing wall and a flat supporting wall respectively extended fromthe base wall, an upward stop flange extended from the flat bearing walland adapted to hold with the flat base wall a partition panel on theflat bearing wall, a downward stop flange extended from the flatsupporting wall and adapted to hold with the flat base wall a partitionpanel below the flat supporting wall, a downward locating flangeextended from the flat bearing wall and defining with the flatsupporting wall an elongated coupling chamber for hanging things, a flatpositioning wall perpendicularly extended from an opposite side of theflat base wall on the middle, an elongated clamping wall extended fromthe flat positioning wall, and two coupling notches disposed on two endsof the flat positioning wall between the flat base wall and the flatpositioning wall and respectively coupled to two adjacent uprightsupports.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, the spacerseach further comprise a first recessed portion provided in the elongatedflat bearing wall between the elongated flat base wall and the upwardstop flange at a top side and a second recessed portion in the elongatedflat supporting wall between the elongated flat base wall and thedownward stop flange at a bottom side for the mounting of packingstrips.

[0009] Further, carriers may be used to support attached heavy devices.The carriers each comprise a center box and two spacer units at twosides of the center box. The spacer units work same as the spacers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present invention can be more fully understood by referringto the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a combination partition screenaccording to the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an alternate form of the combinationpartition screen according to the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a sectional assembly view of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of another alternate form of thecombination partition screen according to the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a sectional assembly view of FIG. 4;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the present invention showing analternate form of the hanging device; and

[0017]FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the present invention showinganother alternate form of the hanging device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a combination partition screen inaccordance with the present invention comprises at least two uprightsupports 1, a plurality of spacers 2 respectively connected between theupright supports 1, and a partition panel 3 sandwiched in between eachtwo spacers 2.

[0019] The upright support 1 is an elongated profiled member comprisinga longitudinal base plate 11, and at least two longitudinally extendedcoupling portions 12 bilaterally disposed at one side of the base plate11. Preferably, four coupling portions 12 are respectively provided infour corners at two sides of the base plate 11 for the connection of thespacers 2.

[0020] The spacer 2 is an elongated profiled member comprising anelongated flat base wall 21, an elongated flat bearing wall 22perpendicularly extended from the front side of the flat base wall 21,an upward stop flange 221 extended from the free end of the elongatedflat bearing wall 22 and adapted to hold with the elongated flat basewall 21 a partition panel 3 on the elongated flat bearing wall 22, anelongated flat supporting wall 23 perpendicularly extended from thefront side of the flat base wall 21 below the elongated flat bearingwall 21, a downward stop flange 231 extended from the free end of theelongated flat supporting wall 23 and adapted to hold with the elongatedflat base wall 21 a partition panel 3 at the bottom side of theelongated flat supporting wall 23, a downward locating flange 222extended from the free end of the elongated flat bearing wall 22 anddefining with the elongated flat supporting wall 23 an elongatedcoupling chamber 24.

[0021] Furthermore, an elongated flat positioning wall 25perpendicularly extended from the back side of the elongated flat basewall 21 on the middle, an elongated clamping wall 26 extended along thefree end of the elongated flat positioning wall 25, and a coupling notch251 on each end of the elongated flat positioning wall 25 between theelongated flat base wall 21 and the elongated flat positioning wall 25fitting the coupling portions 12 of each upright support 1. When forcingthe coupling notch 251 on one end of the elongated flat positioning wall25 of the spacer 2 into engagement with one coupling portion 12 of oneupright support 1, the spacer 2 can be moved along the upright support 1to the desired elevation.

[0022] Further, recessed portions 223 and 232 are respectively providedat the top side of the elongated flat bearing wall 22 between theelongated flat base wall 21 and the upward stop flange 221 and thebottom side of the elongated flat supporting wall 23 between theelongated flat base wall 21 and the downward stop flange 231 for themounting of packing strips (not shown) to facilitate the positioning ofthe partition panels 3.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 1 again, the upright supports 1 arerespectively fixedly fastened to respective mounting holes B adjacent torespective kick plates A. After one partition panel 3 has been mountedon one kick plate A and stopped between two upright supports 1, onespacer 2 is coupled with its two coupling notches 251 to the twoadjacent upright supports 1 and moved downwards along the uprightsupports 1 to force the elongated flat supporting wall 23 into contactwith the topmost edge of the installed partition panel 3, and then asecond partition panel 3 is put in between the two adjacent uprightsupports 1 and supported on the elongated flat bearing wall 22 of theinstalled spacer 2, and then a second spacer 2 is coupled to the twoadjacent upright supports 1 and lowered to force its elongated flatsupporting wall 23 into contact with the topmost edge of the secondpartition panel 3. By means of repeating this procedure, a partitionscreen is easily set up subject to the desired height. When assembled,the partition panels 3 are respectively stopped in place by the upwardstop flange 221 and downward stop flange 231 of each spacer 2. Further,the partition panels 3 can be cut to the desired height so as to changethe elevations of the spacers 2 in the combination partition screen tobe set up.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a carrier 4 may be providedbetween two horizontally aligned spacers 2 to support a heavy object,for example, a table board. The carrier 4 is a flat, hollow, profiledframe member comprising a flat center box 45 corresponding to the widthof the upright support 1, two end coupling notches 46 at two ends of thecenter box 45 corresponding to one half of the depth of the uprightsupport 1, and two spacer units at two sides of the center box 45 andthe end coupling notches 46. The structure of the spacer units issimilar to the aforesaid spacers 2, each comprising an elongated flatbase wall 41, an elongated flat bearing wall 42 perpendicularly extendedfrom the front side of the flat base wall 41, an upward stop flange 421extended from the free end of the elongated flat bearing wall 42 andadapted to hold with the elongated flat base wall 41 a partition panel 3on the elongated flat bearing wall 42, an elongated flat supporting wall43 perpendicularly extended from the front side of the flat base wall 41below the elongated flat bearing wall 41, a downward stop flange 431extended from the free end of the elongated flat supporting wall 43 andadapted to hold with the elongated flat base wall 41 a partition panel 4at the bottom side of the elongated flat supporting wall 43, a downwardlocating flange 422 extended from the free end of the elongated flatbearing wall 42 and defining with the elongated flat supporting wall 43an elongated coupling chamber 44. Further, recessed portions 423 and 432are respectively provided at the top side of the elongated flat bearingwall 42 between the elongated flat base wall 41 and the upward stopflange 421 and the bottom side of the elongated flat supporting wall 43between the elongated flat base wall 41 and the downward stop flange 431for the mounting of packing strips (not shown) to facilitate thepositioning of the partition panels 3.

[0025] The installation of the carrier 4 is outlined thereinafter withreference to FIGS. 2 and 3 again. The end coupling notches 46 of thecarrier 4 are respectively coupled to two adjacent upright supports 1,and then the carrier 4 is lowered to force the elongated flat supportingwall 43 of each of the two spacer units thereof against the topmost edgeof each partition panel 3 between the two adjacent upright supports 1,and then another two partition panels 3 are coupled to the two adjacentupright supports 1 and respectively supported on the elongated flatbearing wall 42 of each of the two spacer units of the carrier 4. Aftersetting of a combination partition screen, the user can hung things onthe spacers 2 or the carriers 4 at either side of the combinationpartition screen as desired.

[0026]FIG. 4 shows an alternate form of the spacer. According to thisalternate form, the spacer 2′ comprises an elongated flat base wall 21disposed in contact with the back sidewall of each of two verticallyspaced partition panels 3, an elongated flat bearing wall 22 andelongated flat supporting wall 23 perpendicularly extended from theelongated flat base wall 21 at different elevations and supported inbetween the two vertically spaced partition panels 3, a downward stopflange 222 extended from the free end of the elongated flat bearing wall22 and defining with the elongated flat base wall 21 and the elongatedflat supporting wall 23 an elongated coupling chamber 24.

[0027] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the elongated flat bearingwall 22, elongated flat supporting wall 23 and elongated couplingchamber 24 of each spacer 2 form a hanging structure for hanging things.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the elongated flat bearing wall 42,elongated flat supporting wall 43 and elongated coupling chamber 44 ofeach spacer unit of the carrier 4 form a hanging structure for hangingthings. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the elongated flat bearingwall 22, elongated flat supporting wall 23 and elongated couplingchamber 24 of the spacer 2′ form a hanging structure for hanging things.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. from 4 through 7, a hanging device 5 is hungon the hanging structure of spacer 2′ to hold or support things. Thehanging device 5 can be a box, rack, or plate member, comprising avertical back sidewall 512, a horizontal extension plate 51 backwardlyextended from the topmost edge of the vertical back sidewall 512, and acoupling flange 511 upwardly extended from the free end of thehorizontal extension plate 51 remote from the vertical back sidewall512. The height of the coupling flange 511 is slightly greater than thedistance between the downward stop flange 222 and the elongated flatsupporting wall 23. During installation, the coupling flange 511 isinserted into the elongated coupling chamber 24 of the spacer 2′, andthen the hanging device 5 is turned downwards to force the couplingflange 511 into engagement with the downward stop flange 222 of thespacer 2′, keeping the vertical back sidewall 512 supported on the frontsidewall of the lower partition panel 3. Further, the front side of thehanging device 5 is provided with a holder 52 adapted to hold or supportthings.

[0029] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the holder 52 is atop-open storage box 53 adapted to hold things.

[0030] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the holder 52 comprises a hookplate 54 defining a hanging recess 541 adapted to hang things.

[0031] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the holder 52 comprises abearing plate 55 perpendicularly forwardly extended from the verticalback sidewall 512, and strut 551 connected between the vertical backsidewall 512 and the bearing plate 55 at the bottom side. The bearingplate 55 has an upwardly curved outer stop flange 552 adapted to stopstorage things from falling out of the bearing plate 55.

[0032] Although particular embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in detail for purposes of illustration, various modificationsand enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited exceptas by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination partition screen comprising: atleast two upright supports, said upright supports each comprising alongitudinally extended base, and at least two longitudinal couplingportions bilaterally disposed at one side of the base of each of saidupright supports; and a plurality of spacers respectively mountedbetween each two adjacent upright supports of said at least two uprightsupports to support partition panels between each two adjacent uprightsupports, said spacers each comprising an elongated flat base wall, anelongated flat bearing wall perpendicularly extended from a front sideof said flat base wall, an upward stop flange extended from saidelongated flat bearing wall and adapted to hold with said elongated flatbase wall a partition panel on said elongated flat bearing wall, anelongated flat supporting wall perpendicularly extended from said flatbase wall below said elongated flat bearing wall, a downward stop flangeextended from said elongated flat supporting wall and adapted to holdwith said elongated flat base wall a partition panel below saidelongated flat supporting wall, a downward locating flange extended fromsaid elongated flat bearing wall and defining with said elongated flatsupporting wall an elongated coupling chamber, an elongated flatpositioning wall perpendicularly extended from an opposite side of saidelongated flat base wall on the middle opposite to said elongated flatbearing wall and said elongated flat supporting wall, an elongatedclamping wall extended from said elongated flat positioning wall, andtwo coupling notches disposed at two ends of said elongated flatpositioning wall between said elongated flat base wall and saidelongated flat positioning wall and respectively coupled to two adjacentupright supports.
 2. The combination partition screen of claim 1 whereinsaid upright supports each comprise four coupling portions in fourcorners around the respective base.
 3. The combination partition screenof claim 1 wherein said spacers are respectively coupled between eachtwo adjacent upright supports and supported on respective partitionpanels of different heights at different elevations.
 4. The combinationpartition screen of claim 1 wherein said spacers each further comprise afirst recessed portion provided in said elongated flat bearing wallbetween said elongated flat base wall and said upward stop flange at atop side and a second recessed portion in said elongated flat supportingwall between said elongated flat base wall and said downward stop flangeat a bottom side for the mounting of packing strips.
 5. A combinationpartition screen comprising: at least two upright supports, said uprightsupports each comprising a longitudinally extended base, and at leasttwo longitudinal coupling portions bilaterally disposed at one side ofthe base of each of said upright supports; and a plurality of carriersrespectively mounted between each two adjacent upright supports of saidat least two upright supports to support partition panels between eachtwo adjacent upright supports, said carriers each comprising a flatcenter box corresponding to the width of said upright supports, two endcoupling notches disposed at two ends of said center box andrespectively coupled to two adjacent upright supports, and two spacerunits at two sides of said center box and said end coupling notches,said spacer units each comprising an elongated flat base wall, anelongated flat bearing wall perpendicularly extended from a front sideof said flat base wall, an upward stop flange extended from saidelongated flat bearing wall and adapted to hold with said elongated flatbase wall a partition panel on said elongated flat bearing wall, anelongated flat supporting wall perpendicularly extended from said flatbase wall below said elongated flat bearing wall, a downward stop flangeextended from said elongated flat supporting wall and adapted to holdwith said elongated flat base wall a partition panel below saidelongated flat supporting wall, a downward locating flange extended fromsaid elongated flat bearing wall and defining with said elongated flatsupporting wall an elongated coupling chamber, an elongated flatpositioning wall perpendicularly extended from an opposite side of saidelongated flat base wall on the middle opposite to said elongated flatbearing wall and said elongated flat supporting wall, an elongatedclamping wall extended from said elongated flat positioning wall, andtwo coupling notches disposed at two ends of said elongated flatpositioning wall between said elongated flat base wall and saidelongated flat positioning wall and respectively coupled to two adjacentupright supports.
 6. The combination partition screen of claim 5 whereinsaid spacer units each further comprise a first recessed portionprovided in the respective elongated flat bearing wall between therespective elongated flat base wall and the respective upward stopflange at a top side and a second recessed portion in the respectiveelongated flat supporting wall between the respective elongated flatbase wall and the respective downward stop flange at a bottom side forthe mounting of packing strips.
 7. A combination partition screencomprising: at least two upright supports, said upright supports eachcomprising a longitudinally extended base, and at least two longitudinalcoupling portions bilaterally disposed at one side of the base of eachof said upright supports; a plurality of spacers respectively mountedbetween each two adjacent upright supports of said at least two uprightsupports to support partition panels between each two adjacent uprightsupports, said spacers each comprising an elongated flat base wall, anelongated flat bearing wall perpendicularly extended from a front sideof said flat base wall, an upward stop flange extended from saidelongated flat bearing wall and adapted to hold with said elongated flatbase wall a partition panel on said elongated flat bearing wall, anelongated flat supporting wall perpendicularly extended from said flatbase wall below said elongated flat bearing wall, a downward stop flangeextended from said elongated flat supporting wall and adapted to holdwith said elongated flat base wall a partition panel below saidelongated flat supporting wall, a downward locating flange extended fromsaid elongated flat bearing wall and defining with said elongated flatsupporting wall an elongated coupling chamber, an elongated flatpositioning wall perpendicularly extended from an opposite side of saidelongated flat base wall on the middle opposite to said elongated flatbearing wall and said elongated flat supporting wall, an elongatedclamping wall extended from said elongated flat positioning wall, andtwo coupling notches disposed at two ends of said elongated flatpositioning wall between said elongated flat base wall and saidelongated flat positioning wall and respectively coupled to two adjacentupright supports; and at least one carrier respectively mounted betweentwo adjacent upright supports of said at least two upright supports tosupport partition panels between two adjacent upright supports, said atleast one carrier each comprising a flat center box corresponding to thewidth of said upright supports, two end coupling notches disposed at twoends of said center box and respectively coupled to two adjacent uprightsupports, and two spacer units at two sides of said center box and saidend coupling notches, said spacer units each comprising an elongatedflat base wall, an elongated flat bearing wall perpendicularly extendedfrom a front side of the flat base wall of the respective spacer unit,an upward stop flange extended from the elongated flat bearing wall ofthe respective spacer unit and adapted to hold with the elongated flatbase wall of the respective spacer unit a partition panel on theelongated flat bearing wall of the respective spacer unit, an elongatedflat supporting wall perpendicularly extended from the flat base wall ofthe respective spacer unit below the elongated flat bearing wall of therespective spacer unit, a downward stop flange extended from theelongated flat supporting wall of the respective spacer unit and adaptedto hold with the elongated flat base wall of the respective spacer unita partition panel below the elongated flat supporting wall of therespective spacer unit, a downward locating flange extended from theelongated flat bearing wall of the respective spacer unit and definingwith the elongated flat supporting wall of the respective spacer unit anelongated coupling chamber, an elongated flat positioning wallperpendicularly extended from an opposite side of the elongated flatbase wall of the respective spacer unit on the middle opposite to theelongated flat bearing wall and elongated flat supporting wall of therespective spacer unit, an elongated clamping wall extended from theelongated flat positioning wall of the respective spacer unit, and twocoupling notches disposed at two ends of the elongated flat positioningwall between the elongated flat base wall and elongated flat positioningwall of the respective spacer unit and respectively coupled to twoadjacent upright supports.
 8. The combination partition screen of claim7 wherein said spacers each further comprise a first recessed portionprovided in the respective elongated flat bearing wall between therespective elongated flat base wall and the respective upward stopflange at a top side and a second recessed portion in the respectiveelongated flat supporting wall between the respective elongated flatbase wall and the respective downward stop flange at a bottom side forthe mounting of packing strips; said spacer units of each of said atleast one carrier each further comprise a first recessed portionprovided in the respective elongated flat bearing wall between therespective elongated flat base wall and the respective upward stopflange at a top side and a second recessed portion in the respectiveelongated flat supporting wall between the respective elongated flatbase wall and the respective downward stop flange at a bottom side forthe mounting of packing strips.
 9. The combination partition screen ofclaim 7 wherein said spacers are respectively coupled between each twoadjacent upright supports and supported on respective partition panelsof different heights at different elevations.
 10. A hanging structurefor use in a partition screen, comprising: a spacer supported betweentwo vertically spaced partition panels in a partition screen, saidspacer comprising an elongated flat bearing wall and an elongated flatsupporting wall disposed in parallel at different elevations andsupported in between said two vertically spaced partition panels, adownward stop flange extended from said elongated flat bearing wall anddefining with said elongated flat base wall and said elongated flatsupporting wall an elongated coupling chamber; and at least one hangingdevice hung on said spacers to hold/support things, said at least onehanging device each comprising a vertical back sidewall disposed incontact with a front sidewall of the lower partition panel of said twovertically spaced partition panels, a horizontal extension platebackwardly extended from said vertical back sidewall and inserted intosaid coupling chamber of said spacer, holder means forwardly extendedfrom said vertical back sidewall and adapted to hold/support things, anda coupling flange upwardly extended from said horizontal extension plateremote from said vertical back sidewall and hooked up with said downwardstop flange of said spacer in said coupling chamber.
 11. The hangingstructure of claim 10 wherein said spacer comprises an elongated flatbase wall disposed in contact with a back sidewall of each of said twovertically spaced partition panels.
 12. The hanging structure of claim10 wherein said holder means is top-open storage box disposed at a frontside.
 13. The hanging structure of claim 10 wherein said holder means isa rack adapted to hold storage items.
 14. The hanging structure of claim10 wherein said holder means comprises a hook plate defining a hangingrecess for hanging things.
 15. The hanging structure of claim 10 whereinsaid holder means comprises a flat holder plate.
 16. The hangingstructure of claim 15 wherein said holder means further comprises astrut connected between said vertical back sidewall of said spacer and abottom sidewall of said flat holder plate.
 17. The hanging structure ofclaim 15 wherein said flat holder plate has a front stop flange smoothlycurved upwards.